Health Department reports another West Nile virus death

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi State Department of Health reports one West Nile virus (WNV) death in a Leflore County resident and seven new human cases in Jones (2), Leflore, Madison, Rankin, Sunflower and Winston counties, bringing the state’s total to 46 cases for 2011 with four deaths.

So far this year, cases have been confirmed in Forrest (4), Hinds (6), Jones (6), Madison (7), Pearl River (6), Rankin (6), Washington (2) and one case each in Coahoma, Jasper, Leflore, Lincoln, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Wayne, and Winston counties. Four deaths have been confirmed, in Jasper, Jones, Leflore, and Pearl River counties.

In 2010, Mississippi had eight WNV cases and no deaths.